Scale.



No. 7o|,273. Patented may 27, |902.

y H. B. osuon, 1n.

SCALE.

` (Application mea nec. 19, 1901.) (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet I.

Il IIIIIMII @mz L MW Mam A @im No. 70l,273. Patented May 27, i902.

' H. B. USGODD, ln.

SCALE.

4\Applicrztion filed Dec. 19, 1901.) (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

/ylv a 17 a 5 l Z llrpllrmlflllll ao10q0607oso9o1o0 L Jl /L 0 9 s 6 5 4 a Z /o z' I J J j) j No. 70|,273. Patented may 27, |902.

y H. B. osoon, 1n.

SCALE.

(Application led Dec. Q, 1901.) (No Mpdel.) 4 Shets-Sheet 3.

i 77 J1 nl m: Nnms Farina cn., PHoo-LxmmwAsHmsToN, n. c.

No. 7m,273.

R. l ...u1 0 0 G S. 0 B. H.

S CAL E.

iApplicatiou led Dec. 19, 1901.1

4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

(No Model.)

lnlltl Y r e mams Prrcns co, PHoToLlw UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

HORATIO B. OSGOOD, JR., OF BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO DANIEL M. WINANS, OF BINGHAMTON, NEV YORK.

` SCALE.

SEECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent N o. 701,273, dated May 27, 1902.

Application filed December 19, 1.901. Serial No. 86,498. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, it may concern:

Be itknown that LHOEATIO 13. OseooD, J r., a citizen of the United States,residing at Binghamtcn, county of Broome, and State of New York, have invented certa-in new and useful Improvements in Scales, fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.

This invention relates particularly to that class of scales known as beam-scales, in which one or more scale-beams are used, with a poise adjustable thereon and a counterpoise suspended from the end of the beam for holding separate weights, although the invention is applicable also in connection with scalebeams in weighing and measuring apparatus generally.

The especial object of the invention is to provide a simple and efficient beam-scale in which the separate weights for the counterpoise are transferred to and from the counterpoise by moving them along a runway, so that they may readily be added t0 and returned from the counterpoise, while always retained on the scale, so as to be ready for use and not liable to misplacement or loss, and, further, to provide such a scale in which spherical weights may be efficiently and conveniently used.

My invention includes also the feature of using hardened-steel balls as the weights.

As a full understanding of the invention can best be given by a detailed description of a construction embodying the same, such a description will now be given, in connection with the accompanying drawings, showing the construction that I now consider preferable for carrying out my invention and certain modifications thereof, and the features forming the invention will then be specifically pointed out in the claims.

ln the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of so much of a scale as is necessary to illustrate my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same with the scale-beam and counterpoise-hanger broken away to show the construction. Fig. 3 is a cross-section on the line 3 of Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 4L is alongitudinal section on the line f1 of Fig. 3, showing the scale-beam depressed by weights run onto tho counterpoise. Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. Li, showing the operation of returning the weights to the weight holder or runway on the scale. Figs. G and 7 are views corresponding to Figs. 1 and 2, showing a modified construction. Fig. 8 is a section on the line S of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a central cross-section of the counterpoise looking toward the left in Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a detail of the counterpoise looking toward the right in Fig. 8. Fig.V 11 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the operation of returning the weights to the runway. Fig. 12 shows another modification, the operation of returning the weights to the runway being shown in dotted lines.

Referring to the drawings, the scale-beam shown is in its general features of a common form, A being the cap, having the vertical standard B, on which is pivoted the scalebeam O,which is shown as divided for weights up to one hundred pounds, and has the usual movable poise D, the beam being shown as connected by the usual links E to the platform or other support for the articles to be weighed. The usual forked standard F and locking-clip Gare shown for locking the beam when desired. t will be understood that all these parts may be of any other common or suitable construction, these being shown only as a convenient form of beam-scale for embodiment and illustration of my invention.

Referring now particularly to the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 5 and the parts in which my invention is embodied, there is hung from the end of the scale-beam (shown as on knife-edge bearings 1 as common) the counterpoise H, which consists of top and bottom plates 10 11, connected by a central bar 12 and an open spiral runway formed by the rod 13, so that weights admitted above the iirst spiral at the top of the counterpoise will run down around the central bar 12 on the spiral runway to the bottom of the runway, successive weights thus being piled up upon the runway about the central bar 12. This counterpoise H is supported from the bearings 1 on the beam by arms 14, connected to opposite sides of the counterpoise and carrying at the top a forked bearing-piece 2. These arms 14 are preferably extended to the bottom of the counterpoise, as shown, so as IOC to form guides 15, which run in guideways 1G, formed in the frame A, and side pieces projecting upwardiytherefrom, so that the counterpoise is guided in its downward and upward movements and too much swinging of the poise prevented, these guides 15 also serving as tie-bars to tie the plates 10 11 together. The counterpoise is provided with a stop 3 at the bottom, which holds the weights and prevents their running off the counterpoise, this stop 3 being supported by spring 30, provided with a trip 4, which engages a fixed projection 5 when the counterpoise is raised for the return of the weights to the weight-holder or runway on the frame, so as to depress the spring 30 and stop 3 and release the weights, as fully described hereinafter and shown in Fig. 5. A fixed shield 20 is preferably provided on the cap, which prevents the weights passing oif the counterpoise except for return to the weight-holder, so as to avoid all chance off the weights running oif the counterpoise through accidental release of the stop 3. The weights cc, which are spherical in the construction shown, consist, preferably, of hardened-steel balls of suitable size, according to the amounts which it is desired the scale shall weigh. As shown, there are nine of these balls, each of which is a hundred-pound weight-that is, represents one hundred pounds in the weight-so that the scale with these nine weights is adapted to weigh up to one thousand pounds. These weights are supported in a weight-holder I, the bottom of which forms a runway 17, on which the weights lie and run in line. This runway 17 is inclined downward from the counterpoise II and so arranged that its end next the counterpoise is in position so that a weight pusned up and off the runway 17 in the normal position of the counterpoise II, as shown in, Figs. 1 and 3, will pass between the top plate 10 of the counterpoise and the next spiral of the runway 13, and thus pass onto the runway 13 and run down the same onto the bottom plate 11, the second and successive weights following the iirst and piling up upon it within the spiral 13, as shown in Fig. 4.

e The weight-holder I is preferably provided with a top bar 1S, which is divided into spaces corresponding to the weights and numbered from 1 to 9, inclusive, commencing at the end next the counterpoise. The last number on the bar 18, opposite the space from which a weight has been transferred to the counterpoise, shows the number of weights, and consequently the number of hundredweights, on the counterpoise. The projection 5 for actuating the trip 4, previously referred to, is formed on the bottom of the holder I just below the upper end of the runway 17, so that this trips the catch 3 just as the bottom plate 11 is brought by the raising of the Vcounterpoise II into position for the weights on the counterpoise to run from the counterpoise onto and down the runway 17 on the holder I. The plate 10 forms a cut-off for the weights on the runway 17, so that when the number of weights pushed onto the counterpoise carries the scale-beam downward the end of the runway 17, from which the weights pass to the counterpoise, is immediately closed, preventing more weights being transferred to the counterpoise than is required for the weight.

The operation of the construction will be understood from a brief description.

In Figs. 1 to 3 the scale is shown in its normal position for weighing, with the poise D at zero and no weights in the counterpoise H. If the weight of the article to be weighed is not more than one hundred pounds, of course no weights will be transferred to the counterpoise, but the article will be weighed by the poise D. If the weight is more than one hundred pounds, however, the operator after the poise D has been moved on the beam C to the one-hundred-pound notch pushes one or more of the weights on the runway 17, so as to deliver to the counterpoise H the first weight and such additional weights as are necessary to carry the scale-beam C down. It is not necessary to push the weights up the runway one by one; but the operator, knowing about the weight of the article to be weighed, will push up such number of weights as he thinks sufficient. As soon as enough weights have passed into the counterpoise I-I to carry the scale-beam C down, so that the weight of the counterpoise with the poise D at the one-hundred-pound mark is in excess of the weight of the article, the top plate 10 of the counterpoise H as the counterpoise starts to move down is brought immediately into position to close the delivery-opening at the upper end of the runway 17 and prevent more weights passing to the coun terpoise, as shown in Fig. 4, which iigu re also shows the position of the counterpoise with three weights therein. The total weights of the counterpoise and the poise D on the one-hundred notch on the scale-beam being thus in excess of the weight of the article to be weighed, the poise D is moved back from the one-hundred notch until the weight of the article is accurately determined. As shown in Fig. 4, the weight of the assumed article is three hundred and forty pounds. The article thus having been weighed and it being desired to return the weights from the counterpoise H to the weightholder l, the counterpoise is raised, as shown in Fig. 5, so as to draw up the counterpoise until the bottom plate 11 is brought opposite the opening to the runway 17 and in position for the lower weight a; to run from the counterpoise onto the runway, and just as the counterpoise reaches this position the trip 4 strikes the projection 5 and the stop 3 is thus depressed, so as to release the weights in the counterpoise, as shown in Fig. 5, and permit them to runl down the runway 17 to their normal position, after which the counterpoise II is returned to the position shown in Fig. 1.

While the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 to 5 will usually be found preferable, and it is IOO IIO

especially convenient in small scales in that all the weights required may be transferred to the counterpoise by a single movement of the operator and the passage of weights to the counterpoise is automatically cut off when the required number have been transferred t to the counterpoise, it may befound desirable in some cases to use a construction in which the weights normally tend to run down to the counterpoise and are released from the weight-holder one by one by a key or otherwise for transfer to the counterpoise. In Figs. 6 to 11 I have shown such a construction which diiers from that previously described, particularly in the arrangement of the weightholder and the provision made for the delivery of the weights from the holder to the counterpoise and their return from the counterpoise to the holder. The speciiic construction of the counterpoise also is somewhat modified. In this construction the weightholder I with the runway 17, is inclined upward from the counterpoise instead of downward, so that in the normal position of the weight-holder the weights tend to run down from the holder into the counterpoise. A pivoted stop 21 at the end of the holder retains the weights in the holder, and this stop 21 may be conveniently actuated by a lingerkey 6, as shown. The spiral runway in the con nterpoise I-I consists in this form of a spiral plate 22, within a casing 23, and the weights are held on the bottom plate 1l ot' the counterpoise by a pivoted stop 24, having an arm 7 projecting therefrom, which engages a projection on the frame when the counterpoise is raised, so as to throw this stop from the position shown in fulllines in Fig. 10 to that shown in dotted lines, thus releasing the weights in the counterpoise. The counterpoise I-I in this construction is shown as guidedin its movement and held from swinging by the plate M, through an opening in which the counterpoise H passes, and by the four guide-rods 16, shown secured rigidly to said plate M and extending above and below it. Any other suitable construction maybe used for this purpose, however. The bottom plate 1l of the counterpoise has a projection 25, which engages a shoulder' 26 at the bottom of the delivery end of the weight-holder I, and this weight-holder I is pivoted at its opposite end at 27, so that by the engagement of the projection 25 with the shoulder 26 when the counterpoise is raised to position for return of the weights to the holder the latter is swung upward on its pivot 27 from the position shown in Fig. 8 to that shown in Fig. 1l, so that the runway 17 is inclined downward from the counterpoise, and the weights then run from the counterpoise into the holder and down the runway 17. The stop 21 may be raised by nger for this return; but I have shown a lug 8 on the standard F, which is struck by this stop as the delivery end of the holder I is raised and the stop thus moved to open the holder for the return of the weights. The

holder I in this construction is similar to the weight-holder of Figs. 1 to 5, except that it is pivoted at 27 to swing up and down from a position in which the balls on the runway will roll toward the counterpoise I-I, as shown in Figs. 6 to 8, to a position in which they will roll from the counterpoise, as shown in Fig. 11, these two positions of the runway providing for moving the balls to the counterpoise for weighing and returning the balls from the counterpoise after weighing, the iigures 1 to 9 on the bar 18 of the weightholder in this construction running in the opposite direction from the iigures in the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 5, because the vacant spaces corresponding to the number of balls transferred to the counterpoise for weighing will be at opposite ends of the weight-holder in the two constructions. The operation of this modified construction will be readily understood from Figs. 6 to 11 in connection with the previous description of the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 5, so that no further description of such operation is necessary, it being understood that Figs. 6 and 7 show the position of the parts with all the weights in the holder I. Fig. S shows the position of the parts with one weight transferred to the counterpoise and the scale-beam down, the position of a weight in passing down the spiral runway in the counterpoise being shown in dotted lines in this figure. Fig. 11 shows the counterpoise and weight- .holder in position for the return of the weights to the holder.

In Fig. 12 is shown a simple construction which is similar to that shown in Figs. 6 to 1l except that the counterpoise K consists simply of a tube which is hinged at the lower end of arms 14, by which it is hung from the scale-beam, as in the constructions previously described. By actuating the iinger-key stop 2l one or more of the weights may be released.

from the holder I and allowed to run down into the counterpoise K, and the weights are returned to the weight-holder I by raising the latter so as to change the incline, as in the construction previously described, and then tilting the counterpoise K from the position shown in 'full lines in Fig. 12 to that shown in dotted lines, when the weights will run down the continuous incline formed by the side wall ol the counterpoise and the runway 17 on the weight-holder. A yielding springpressed support or false bottom 2S is preferably used in the counterpoise K -for the receipt of the weights as they run from the holder into the counterpoise.

It will be understood that other means for changing the relative positions of the weightholder and counterpoise for the transfer of the weights to the counterpoise and their return to the holder may be used in place of the construction shown, the preferable form of such means depending to some extent upon the character of the scale and the size and number ot. the weight-s used.

Various other modifications may readily be made in the construction shown without departing from my invention, and it will be understood that I am not to be limited to the specific construction or arrangement of parts in any of the forms shown.

While I preferably use spherical weights, as these may be made much more uniformly and cheaply than weights of other forms, it will be understood also that the invention, broadly considered, includes constructions in which weights of other forms are used.

I secure many important advantages by the use of hardened-steel balls as sealeweights, and I claim this feature as a part of my invention. These hardened-steel balls wholly avoid the objections existing to all previous scale-weights, which it is very difficult to make to the exact weight required, especially in scales using large leverage or scales for accurate weighing and which do not maintain their weight in use and may readily be changedin weight for dishonest purposes. My hardened-steel balls may readily and cheaply be made in large quantities with the greatest accuracy in size and weight, perfectly spherical, and so hard that they are not affected by use and cannot readily be tampered with, but are practically unchangeable in weight.

That I claim is- 1. The combination with a scale-beam and poise,of a counterpoise on the beam,a weightholder having a runway and series of weights adapted to move on said runway, said counterpoise and runway being arranged for the weights to pass over the runway to and `from the counterpoise, and said runway being so constructed and arranged that any number of the weights may be transferred to the counterpoise while the remaining weights of the series are retained in theholder, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a scale-beam and poise,of a counterpoise on the bea1n,a weightholder having a runway and series of spherical weights on said runway, said counterpoise and runway being arranged for the weights to roll over the runway to and from the counterpoise, and said runway being so constructed and arranged that any number of the weights may be transferred to the counterpoise while the remaining weights of the series are retained in the holder, substantially as described.

3. The combination with' a scale-beam and poise, of a counterpoise on the beam having a spiral weight-runway, a stop at the bottom of the spiral runway for holding the weights, a weight-holder having a runway and series of Weights, said counterpoise and holder being arranged for the weights to pass over the holder-runway to and from. the spiral counterpoise-runway, substantially as described.

4t. The combination with a scale-beam and poise, of a counterpoise on the beam having a spiral weight-runway adapted for spherical weights,a stop at the bottom of the spiral runway for holding the weights, a weight-holder having a runway and series of spherical weights, said counterpoise and holder being arranged for the weights to roll over the holder-runway to and from the spiral counterpoise-runway, substantially as described. 5. The combination with a scale-beam and poise, of acounterpoise on the beam,aweightholder having a runway and series of weights adapted to move on said runway, said counterpoiseand runway being arranged for the weights to pass over the runway to and from the counterpoise and for change of the relative position of the counterpoise and runway from the weighing position in which the Weights may pass from the runway to the counterpoise into a position for the return of the weights from the counterpoise, and said runway being so constructed and arranged that any number of the weights may be transferred to the counterpoise while the remaining weights of the series are retained in the holder, substantially as described.

G. The combination with a scale-beam and poise, of a counterpoise on the beam having a spiral weight-runway, a weight-holder having a runway and series of weights, said counterpoise and holder being arranged for the weights to pass over the holder-runway to and from the spiral cou nterpoise-runway, said counterpoise being normally in position to receive the weights at the top oil' the spiral runway and being mounted for return ot' the weights to the holder-runway from the bottom of the spiral runway, substantially as described.

7. rlhe combination with a scale-beam and poise, of a counterpoise on the beam having a spiral weight-runway, a weight-holder having a runway and series of weights, said counterpoise and holder being arranged for the weights to pass over the holder-runway to and from the spiral counterpoise-runway and a releasable stop at the bottom of the spiral runway, substantially as described.

S. The combination with a scale-beam and poise, of a counterpoise on the beam having a spiral weight-runway, a weight-holder having a runway and series of weights, said couliterpoise and holder being arranged for the weights to pass over the holder-runway to and from the spiral counterpoise-runway, a releasable stop at the bottom of the spiral runway, and means whereby said stop is released when the counterpoise is raised for returning the weights, substantially as described.

U.' The combination with a scale-beam and poise, of a counterpoise on the beam having a spiral weight-runway, a weight-holder having a fixed runway inclined downward from the counterpoise and series oi' weights, said counterpoise being mounted for movement from the weighing position in which the weights may pass from the runway to the counterpoise into a position Vfor the return of ICC IIC

the weights from the counterpoise, substantially as described.

10. The combination with a scale-beam and poise, of a counterpoise on the beam having a spiral weight-runway, a weight-holder having a fixed runway inclined downward from the counterpoise and series of weights, said counterpoise being mounted for movement from the weighing position in which the weights may pass from the runway to the counterpoise into a position for the return of the weights from the counterpoise, a releasable weight-stop on the counterpoise, and means whereby said stop is released when the counterpoise is raised for returning the weights, substantially as described.

11. The combination with a scale-beam and poise, of a counterpoise on the beam adapted to receive a number of weights, and a weightholder having a runway and series of weights adapted to move thereon to the counterpoise for weighing and to move thereon from the counterpoise when the weights that have been transferred to the counterpoise are raised for return to the runway, and said runway being so constructed and arranged that any number of the weights may be transferred to the counterpoise while the remaining weights of the series are retained in the holder, substantially as described.

12. The combination with a scale-beam and poise, of a counterpoise on the beam adapted to receive a number of weights, and a weightholder having a iixed runway inclined downward from the counterpoise and series of weights adapted to move thereon to the counterpoise for weighing and to move thereon from the counterpoise when the weights that have been transferred to the counterpoise are raised for return to the runway, substantially as described.

13. The combination with a scale-beam and poise and a series of weights, of a counterpoise adapted to receive the weights and having a vertical spiral weight-runway, substantially as described.

14. The combination with a scale-beam and poise, of a Weight-holder on the scale having a runway and series of hardened-steel-ball counterpoise-weights, said runway being so constructed and arranged that any number of the weights may be transferred over the runway into position for use as counterpoiseweights, while the remaining weights of the series are retained on the runway and the weights used may be returned to the runway after weighing, substantially as described.

15. The combination with a scale-beam and poise, counterpoise and weight-holder, of a series of hardened-steel-ballweights in the holder, said counterpoise and holder being constructed and arranged for the transfer of any number of said weights from the holder to the counterpoise for weighing` while the remaining weights of the series are retained in the holder and for returning the used weights from the counterpoise to the holder after weighing, substantially as described.

1G. The combination with a scale-beam and poise and a series of spherical weights and runway therefor, of a counterpoise adapted to receive the weights, and having the open vertical spiral weight-runway 13 and central bar 12, substantially as described.

17. The combination with the scale-beam, poise and weights, of the counterpoise having the weight-runway, a weight-stop at the bottom of the runway, and guard 20, substantially as described.

18. The combination with the scale-beam and poise, of the weight-holder I having the inclined runway 17, a series of spherical weights a; on said runway, counterpoise H suspended from the beam and having a spiral runway adapted to receive the weights w from the runway 17 at the top of the spiral runway and be lifted for the return of the weights from the bottom of the spiral runway, a releasable stop for holding the weights in the counterpoise, and a cut-off at the top of the counterpoise adapted to close the holder I and prevent weights passing from the holder to the counterpoise when the scale-beam is lowered, substantially as described.

19. The combination with the scale-beam and poise, of the weight-holder I having the inclined runway 17, a series of spherical weights .r on said runway, counterpoise H suspended from the beam and having a spiral runway adapted to receive the weights from the runway 17 at the top of the spiral runway and be lifted for the return of the weights from the bottom of the spiral runway, a stop 3 for holding the weights on the counterpoise, and means for tripping said stop to release the weights when the counterpoise is raised for returning the weights to the holder, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HORATIO B. OSGOOD, JR.

Vitnesses:

B. S. CURRAN, Jr., B. S. CURRAN.

IOO 

